The Eight Great Guardians

Japanese: 八部衆 - はちぶしゅう

The eight deities with strange forms who protect Buddhism. They are also known as the Eight Heavenly Dragons or the Eight Dragon Gods. They are: Ten (heavenly beings), Ryu (dragon gods and dragon kings), Yasha (brave and vicious, flying in the air), Kendatsuba (eating incense and playing music), Ashura, Karura (a gold-winged bird that eats dragons), Kinnara (a horned singing deity), and Magoraka (a snake deity).
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Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

仏教を守護する異形の神々。天竜八部衆，竜神八部とも。天（天部），竜（竜神・竜王），夜叉(やしゃ)（勇健暴悪で空中を飛行する），乾闥婆(けんだつば)（香(こう)を食い，音楽を奏す），阿修羅(あしゅら)，迦楼羅(かるら)（金翅鳥で竜を食う），緊那羅(きんなら)（角のある歌神），摩【ご】羅迦(まごらか)（蛇の神）の８をいう。
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